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Super 8 Film holds up pretty good over time. Most 8mm and Super 8 film can last 50 to 70 years if stored right. However, each time you play your Super 8 film in a projector, you take the chance of scratching, burning or tearing the super 8 film.

If you look around at all the Super 8 film to DVD companies you find that over 98% of them are using a sprocket driven machine if not an old projector or modified projector. This means that each time you transfer your Super 8 film to DVD you take the chance of scratching, burning or tearing the Super 8 film.

Another factor in deciding how many times you can transfer your 8mm film to DVD is the age of the 8mm film and the way in which it has been stored. 8mm film can last up to 60-70 years if stored properly. In general, if the 8mm film can be played in a projector, it can still be transferred.

Less than 1% of the companies out today use a professional film scanners like a motion picture film scanner or Datacine machine for your Super 8 film to DVD project. These machines don’t use the sprocket holes or an old projector to transfer the film. So, these professional Super 8 film scanners can’t scratch, burn or tear the film. In addition, these Super 8 film to DVD film scanners can better deal with fragile or warped film. If you have a choice, choose to transfer your Super 8 film to DVD using a professional Super 8 film scanner.

Super 8 film has about 800 to 900 lines of resolution. A HD scan of your Super 8 film will capture 100% of the details from the film. An Super 8 film to DVD transfer will only capture about 60% (480 of 800-900 lines) of the details from your film.

But, there are different ways to perform an Super 8 film HD transfer which can make a huge difference. There is a real-time HD process, a frame by frame HD process and a professional film scanner HD process. A real-time HD film transfer process uses a HD camcorder and records your film as it goes by in real-time. Because it uses a projector and camcorder in a real-time fashion, this process will produce video that is about 40-50% worse than the film itself.

A frame by frame HD process still uses a HD camcorder and projector but it stops at each frame and the camcorder is used to take a picture of the frame. This produces slightly better quality than a real-time HD film transfer process.

The best Super 8 HD process uses a professional motion picture film scanner. The film is scanned using equipment like a professional broadcast quality film scanner used by the movie studios. An HD film scanner will produce video is that about 30 to 50% better quality than a HD frame by frame process.

If you are looking for the very best quality film transfer, look for a film transfer company that uses a motion picture film scanner to scan your Super 8 film.

There are 4 types of Super 8 and 8mm to DVD transfer machines out there today. Both real-time and frame by frame use a modified projector and camcorder. A real-time 8mm film to DVD transfer runs the film at full speed like on a projector. Well, on this machine it is running on a projector. The film is projected onto a mirror or surface and the camcorder records that surface. You could basically do this at home.

A frame by frame 8mm film to DVD process still uses a projector and camcorder but the camcorder is pointed directly at the film and the camcorder captures one frame at a time. A frame by frame 8mm film to DVD process will result in video that is about 20-30% better than a real-time 8mm or Super 8 film to DVD process.

The best 8mm or Super 8 film to DVD transfer is done using a professional film scanner like a motion picture film scanner or Datacine machine. A professional film scanner is made with state of the art components. These scanners typically have the ability to deal with shrunk film or film with sprocket hole damage. A professional film scanner will produce video that is about 30-50% better than a frame by frame 8mm or super 8 process.

This 8mm film to DVD order form will let you compare the options and costs of each type of film transfer. This way you can make an informed decision and stay within your budget.

It depends on your goal. Some people call and want the very best no matter what. Others call with a budget in mind and want the best quality within there budget. Usually just a few customers will call asking for the cheapest. Once customers are educated they choose a higher quality option.

Professional film scanners have long been available to the professional market for years. These professional movie film scanners were typically scanning Hollywood 35mm or 16mm film. They could do 8mm or Super 8 film if they had the right gate but many times these gates cost $100,000 each or more and they didn’t have enough volume to warrant the costs.

Recently some lower cost ($100,000 plus) film scanners have come available for Regular 8mm and Super 8 film. These machines have many of the same benefits and quality of the professional film scanners of the past but are focused on smaller gauge formats like Regular 8mm and Super 8 film.

Compared to a real-time or frame by frame machine, a professional 8mm or Super 8 film scanner can many times get 30-50% better quality from the same film. So, it is definitely worth scanning your Super 8 or 8mm film with a professional film scanner that can truly archive your film.

Something else to consider is that some 8mm film transfer processes include a high definition version. In addition, some include restoration as well for color, exposure and scratch elimination. So, do your homework to find the best super 8 film to dvd company to archive your film.